Envelope machine



Dec.7,1937. A.N OVICK 2,101,268

ENVELOPE MACHINE I Original Filed April 2'7, 1932 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOJR Abra/2am Nor/ck.

A TTORNE Y5 De.7',1937.. A'NOWCK 2,101,268 I ENVELOPE MACHINE I Origin al Filed April 27, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Q Q INVENTOR Abra/7am Nor/ck.

BYI'QLWQLM A TTORNE Y5 F/g. a

Patented Dec. 7, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 2,101,268 V ENVELOPE corporation of New York 5 Applicatior'i ipriil 27, lsaaseiial Renewed July 11,1936

f 4 Claims. (01. 271-46) invention {relates to envelope making machines, and has for an object to provide a timing arid aligning fn'echai'iisrn which Will be accurate and dependable} *6 v The practice has been followed in the pastof depositing envelope blanks'separately and-successively upon a stationary support and of providi'rig'timin' g andal'igningpins carried by endless chains for engaging the trailing ends of the 10 blanks at the junctions of the side flaps with the trailing central flap, and-pushing the blanks forward to" timed operating instrumentalities while "subjecting the blanks to a frictionalretarding influence. J d5 The procedure outlined above has the draw- .back that in high speed machinery the pins come into engagement with a stationary blank .while traveling at higlrspeed. The inertia of the blank and the drag of the frictional retarding device interfere with the instantaneous acceleration of the blank to-the' speed of the pins. As a consequence, it-is-nOt uncommon for the pins to make 'dents-or deformations in the trailing edge of a maaawmcn deformations preclude the proper g5 alignmentof the blank. In accordance with the present invention, provision is made for overcoming this difficulty; To this end provision is made in accordance with apreferred embodiment of theinvention of anauxiliary pin feeder, the auxiliary'feeder pins traveling outside of, and at a little slower speed than, the main feeder pins. .The pins of the auxiliary feeder are timed to engage the'blank in advance of the pins of the main feeder, but to be overtaken by the latter andto give up control of the blank to them after the blank has been set in motion. In this way the impactof the main feeder pins" against the blank'is caused to be very light, since the blank is traveling at r40 nearlythe speed of the main feeder pins at the "time when it'is' first engaged bythem'. Whether "or not the blank is deformed by the auxiliary feeder pins is unimportant; since these pins engage portions of the blank which are not relied vfoiifor timing or aligning. Accurate timing and aligning are reliably accomplished by the pins "of the main feeder. V I Other objects and-advantagesjwill hereinafter 60 appear.

In the cation, a Figure l is a view in sectional, side elevation of a portion, of an envelope machine embodying 55 ieatureslof thepresent invention, the section vloedrawings forming part of this specifiso. Gaines ing takenon the line i -i of Figure 6, looking the direction of the arrows I Figure 2 is a mammary, detail, sectional view, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a detail, vertical, sectional View taken on the lin 3--3' of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows; v

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic, plan view illushating the relation of the main and auxiliary feeders at the time when the auxiliary feeder pins first engage a blank; 7 Figure 5' is" a View similar to Figure 4 i11ustrating the relatiorf'oi the main and auxiliary feeders: after the blank has been overtaken by the mainfeeder; a r Figure 6 is" a fragmentary, plan view showing the aligning and timing mechanism illustrated inFigure 1; g I V I Figure is a View similar to Figure 6, but show ing certain of theparts broken away for thepurppse of revealing underlying parts; and I Figure 8 is a detail, plan view, partly broken away, illustrating features of the mounting of the main. and auxiliary feeder mechanism at the adjustable side thereof.

The machine comprises a blank separating and feeding mechanism l' of the type illustrated in Letters Patent of the United States to Charles FnPflanzarNo. 1,385,468. The envelope blanks arestacked upon a'shelf 2 and are taken off one by one in timed relation by the separating and feeding mechanism referred to. Such mechanism comprises a feeding disc or cylinder 3 which carries a'pair of friction feet 4. A shoe 5 stands in Opposed relation to the cylinder 3 and to the ,friction feet 4; while a feed roller 6 is provided in position to cooperate with the cylinder 3'. This mechanism is effective to deliver the blanks one by one in spaced relation and substantially in definitely timed relation onto a stationary table comprising relativelyradjustable table members :1 and 8', and a plate 9 which is disposed between the-table members I and 8 Bars III are disposed above the'plane of theplate 9 and are provided with spring members H for bearing against the blanks to exert a frictional retarding influence on said blanks. Provision is made of an aux- ,iliary feeder for starting the blanks'into'motion, which feeder, comprises chains l2 and I3 that carry pins l4 and I5. Provision is also made of a pair of timing and aligning feeders which comprise' chains I6 and I1 and pins l8 and IS. The fchains l2 and I3travel a little slower than the chains: Ifiand I], but are so timed that a pair The spacing between successive pins I8, I9 of chains I6, I! is slightly greater than the spec-- ing between the pins I 4, I5, respectively, of chains I2, l3, the relation of the spacing being as 10 is to 9. The sprockets 38 and Ilb by which chains' I6, H are driven are larger in diameter than the sprockets 4| and I31) which drive the chains I2, I3, the ratio of the diameters of these sprockets being also 10 to 9. By reason of this, the speed of chains l6, I7 is greater than the speed of chains. I2, I3, namely, in the proportion of 10 to 9. The pins are so positioned on their respective sets of chainsthat the slower moving pins I4, I5 engage the blank slightly in advance of the engagement thereof by the faster moving pins l8, I9, as indicated diagrammatically in Figure 4. By reason of the spacing and relative speeds of the above sets of pins, this condition will be repeated each time a blank is delivered from the hopper to the chains for alignment. The shafts 24 and 25 on which the sprockets for the two sets of chains are mounted are rotated at constant speed and at the same number of revolutions per minute.

It will be understood that the proportions above given are approximate and that wide variations may be made in practice from the values above given.

The machine includes a frame comprising side members and 2| for supporting the table mem- .bers l, 8, the plate 9, the chains I2, I3, I6 and I1, and the driving means for the chains. A cross bar 22 spans the space between the frame members 20 and 2| and is fixedly connected to said members. Shafts 23, 24 and 25 also extend across the machine and are journaled in the side members 20 and 2|. The shaft 24 has a bevel gear 26 fixed upon a reduced portion thereof. The chains l2 and I3 of the auxiliary feeder are driven through bevel gear 26 and shaft 24. The shaft 25 has a bevel gear 27 fixed upon a reduced portion thereof. The chains I6 and I! of the main feeder are driven through bevel gear 27 and shaft 25.

A longitudinally extending bracket 28 is fixedly mounted upon the cross bar 22 and rests upon, interfits with, and partially surrounds hub portions of sprockets Ila, I31) and I'Ib, fixed respectively upon the shafts 23, 24 and 25. The bracket 28 has fixed upon arms 28a thereof a plate or block 29 having track grooves formed therein for supporting and guiding the chains I3 and IT. The bracket 28 also supports the table member 8 and a strip 30 of the table. The bracket member 28 is not laterally adjustable, but is fixed on the cross bar 22, and hence fixes the positions of the feeder chains I3 and I1 laterally of the machine.

A shaft 3| extends across the machine and is journaled in the side frame members 28 and 2|. The shaft 3| passes through the bracket 28 and has collars 32 fixed upon it at opposite sides of said bracket, so that the shaft is held against longitudinal movement. The shaft 3| is provided with polygonal ends 33 so that a wrench may be applied at either end of the shaft to rotate it. The shaft 3| has a threaded portion 34 which is effective to adjust the table I and the feeder chains I2 and I6 laterally of the machine. A bracket 35 is slidingly mounted on the cross bar 22. The bracket 35 extends longitudinally of the machine. The threaded portion 34 of the shaft 3| has screw engagement with members 36 fast on the bracket 35. Rotation of the shaft 3| in one direction is effective to carry the bracket 35 toward one side of the machine, while rotation of the shaft 3| in the opposite direction is effective to carry the bracket away from such side of the machine. The bracket 35 interflts with the hub portion 31 of a sprocket 38 whereby the chain I6 is driven. The hub 31 is moved a longitudinally of shaft 25 by adjustment of the bracket 35. The hub 31 is rotatable with the shaft 25, rotation being effected through a key connection, the keyway being indicated in dotted lines at 39 in Figure 7. The bracket 35 similarly interfits with the hub portion 40 of a sprocket 4| which drives the auxiliary feeder chain I2. The sprocket is adjustable longitudinally of the shaft 24 by adjustment of the bracket 35, but is connected to be driven by the. shaft 24 through a key 42 carried by the hub 40 and a keyway 43 that extends longitudinally of the shaft.

The bracket 35 also surrounds a reduced sleeve portion 44 of a sprocket 45 which is mounted upon shaft 23 and which has driving connection with the shaft by means of a key 46 carried by the sprocket and a keyway 41 formed in the shaft. The chain I6 runs upon the sprocket 45.

A sprocket 48 is journaled upon the reduced sleeve portion 44 of sprocket 45 and is held in bearing engagement with the outer face of the bracket 35 by means of a collar 49 made fast upon the sleeve portion 44. The sprocket 48 turns freely upon the sleeve portion 44 and the chain l2 of the auxiliary feeder runs upon the sprocket 48. It will be seen that adjustment of the bracket 35 laterally of the machine is effective to adjust chains I2 and I6 in unison without disturbing the operative relation of such chains to the means for driving them.

A track member 50 is fixed upon the bracket 35 and provides trackways for the chains I2 and I6. Table member I is mounted upon outreaching arms 5| of the bracket 35 and upon the track member 50. A strip 52 of the table is also mounted upon the track member 50. The center plate 9 is fixedly mounted upon a center bracket 53, and the bracket is adjustably secured in place upon the cross bar 22 by means of a set screw 54 and a lock nut 55.

The bracket 35 includes an arm 56 having a vertical slot 51 therein. A guide roller or sprocket 58 for the chain I6 is journaled upon the shank of a bolt 59 that extends through the slot 51. The bolt 59 is adjustable along the slot 51 and may be secured in place by means of a washer 60 and a nut 6| to maintain the chain l6 under the desired degree of tension. Provision is similarly made on the bracket 28 for guiding the chain I1 and maintaining it under the degree of tension desired.

At the delivery end of the chains I6 and I! the envelope blanks pass over a pair of rollers 62, 63 across a table 64. The blanks pass thence between feed rolls 65 and 66 across a table 61 and between rolls 68 and 69 which constitute a scoring couple. From the scoring couple 68, 69 the blanks pass to other instrumentalities for completing the manufacture of them into envelopes.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiment of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiment shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an envelope machine, in combination, a table, a feeder for accelerating a blank on the table from a state of rest, said blank having reentrant corners in its trailing edge comprising a pair of endless chains and pins carried by the chains and engageable with the trailing edge of the blank to initiate its forward movement, said pins engaging said blank at points other than said re-entrant corners, and a timing and aligning feeder operated at a higher speed than the first mentioned feeder, and comprising a pair of endless chains and pins on the chains for overtaking the blank, engaging the trailing edge thereof gently in said re-entrant corners, and taking over control of the blank from the first feeder, the chains of each feeder being relatively adjustable laterally of the machine.

2. In an envelope machine, in combination, a table, a feeder for accelerating a blank on the table from a state of rest, said blank having reentrant corners in its trailing edge comprising a pair of endless chains and pins carried by the chains and engageable with the trailing edge of the blank to initiate its forward movement, said pins engaging said blank at points other than said re-entrant corners, and a timing and aligning feeder operated at a higher speed than the first mentioned feeder, and comprising a pair of endless chains and pins on the chains for overtaking the blank, engaging the trailing edge thereof gently in said re-entrant corners, and

taking over control of the blank from the first unison laterally of the machine.

3. In an envelope machine, in combination, a table, a feeder for accelerating a blank on the table from a state of rest, said blank having reentrant corners in its trailing edge comprising a pair of endless chains and pins carried by the chains and engageable with the trailing edge of the blank to initiate its forward movement, said pins engaging said blank at points other than said re-entrant corners, and a timing and aligning feeder operated at a higher speed than the first mentioned feeder, and comprising a pair of endless chains and pins on the chains for overtaking the blank, engaging the trailing edge thereof gently in said re-entrant corners, and

taking over control of the blank from the first feeder, the chains of each feeder being relatively adjustable laterally of the machine, and driving means for the feeders constructed and arranged to maintain their operative relations to the feeders in all adjusted positions thereof.

4. The method of aligning a blank having reentrant corners which consists in first engaging the rear edge of the blank at points spaced from said re-entrant corners and propelling the blank against frictional resistance by applying pressure at said points and then completing the alignment of the blank by engaging the re-entrant corners of the blank gently by aligning members moving at a speed slightly greater than that of the blank.

ABRAHAM NOVICK. 

